The Madison Keys who will play two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open on Saturday night is not the same Madison Keys who was the runner-up at the U.S.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Aryna Sabalenka continued her charge towards a third-straight Australian Open title by overwhelming her “soulmate” Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in Thursday evening’s semifinal.

Sabalenka beat good friend Paula Badosa of Spain earlier Thursday, 6-4, 6-2. Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, can become the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open singles crowns. "If she plays like this," the 11th-seeded Badosa said, "I mean, we can already give her the trophy."